Case Digest (G.R. No. L-4571)
Facts:
- Case: G.R. No. L-4571, decided on January 30, 1952.
- Parties: Jesus Calvento (defendant) vs. People of the Philippines (plaintiff).
- Origin: Started in the People's Court, moved to the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga.
- Charges: Calvento faced nine counts of treason; evidence was only presented for counts 3 and 9.
- Count 3: On October 6, 1944, Calvento guided Japanese soldiers in the apprehension of Teodomiro Bucoy, who was executed along with two others.
- Count 9: Calvento, with a Japanese patrol, apprehended Joaquin Pioquinto and Santiago Alivio, who were also executed.
- Location: Events occurred in the suburbs of Zamboanga City.
- Defense: Claimed Calvento was a prisoner and that accusations were based on false testimony.
- Prosecution: Presented witnesses who testified to Calvento's active involvement with the Japanese soldiers.
- Trial Court: Found the prosecution's evidence credible, concluding Calvento played a significant role in the crimes.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's ruling, finding Jesus Calvento guilty of treason for counts 3 and 9.
- The Court upheld the trial court's assessment of the credibility of the prosecution's witnesses, finding no error....(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court based its decision on the evaluation of trial evidence.
- Testimonies from prosecution witnesses were found credible and consistent, showing Calvento's active participation in the arrests and executions.
- Evidence indicated Calvento wore an armband with Japanese characters and commanded victims, demonstrating his intention to aid the enemy.
- The defense's claim of Calvento being a prisone...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. L-4571)
Facts:
The case at hand is G.R. No. L-4571, decided on January 30, 1952, involving Jesus Calvento as the defendant and the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff. The case originated in the People's Court but was transferred to the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga following the abolition of the former court. Jesus Calvento faced prosecution for treason on nine counts, but the prosecution only presented evidence for counts 3 and 9 due to the unavailability of witnesses for the other counts.
Count 3 alleges that on October 6, 1944, Calvento acted as a guide for six Japanese soldiers who apprehended Teodomiro Bucoy on suspicion of being a guerrilla. Along with accomplices, including another spy named Bruno Hiyasaki, they allegedly took Bucoy and two other Filipinos to a coconut grove where they were executed. Count 9 similarly accuses Calvento of acting as an enemy agent, where he, in the company of a Japanese patrol unit, apprehended Joaquin Pioquinto and Santiago Alivio, who were also executed on the same day.
The events took place in the suburbs of Zamboanga City, where it was established that the three victims were indeed apprehended as suspected guerrillas. The defense claimed that Calvento was himself a prisoner and that the accusations against him were based on perjured testimony. Calvento testified that he was arrested on October 2, 1944, by a Japanese named Bruno and was tortured until he was forced to reveal the location of Bucoy. The prosecution's evidence included testimonies from various witnesses who described Calvento'...